2017/2018

2019/2020

DM270

GEO/09 (MINERAL GEOLOGICAL RESOURCES AND MINERALOGIC AND PETROGRAPHIC APPLICATIONS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURAL HERITAGE)

DEPARTMENT OF EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES

PERCORSO COMUNE

3°

1st semester (01/10/2019 - 15/01/2020)

6

48 lesson hours

Italian

ORAL TEST

SETTI MASSIMO (titolare) - 6 ECTS

We recommend to the students basic knowledge of mineralogy, petrography, geology.

Knowledge of the most important genetic processes leading to the formation of the ore bodies.
Ability to analyse and describe a geological and mine profile.
Knowledge of the most important ore mines of the world.
Knowledge of the characteristics and composition of the clay materials and clay minerals.
Knowledge of the most important applications of the clays and of the clay minerals.
Knowledge of the most important analytical methodologies for the analysis and characterization of the geomaterials.

The course is divided in two parts:
• Ore mines
• Clays and clay minerals: properties and applications

Ore mines (3 CFU = 24 hours)
The first part of the course offers the possibility to the students to improve their general knowledge of geology, mineralogy, petrography and geochemistry. The purpose of the course is to provide the basic competence that allow the students to understand the most important genetic processes that lead to the formation of the ore bodies. During the course the most important genetic processes that lead to the formation of ore mines are explained.

Clays and Clay minerals: properties and applications (3 CFU = 24 hours)
The subject of the second part of the course is focused on the different aspects concerning the basic research and the different fields of applications of the clay materials. Importance of the clays and clay minerals, their composition and characteristics. Genetic processes that lead to the formation of the clay minerals. Clay minerals as paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental indicators. Properties and characteristics of the clay minerals. Industrial applications of the clay minerals: pottery, alimentary, zootechnics, chemistry, pharmacology, cosmetics, etc. Clay minerals in the frame of the oil research: their use as indicators of the diagenetic processes and their influence on the porosity of the sediments. The mechanical behaviour induced by the clay minerals in the soils. The use of clay minerals in the environmental applications (in particular, in the landfills). The most important analytical methodologies for the study and the characterization of the clay sediments are also illustrated, together with some practical exercitations.

Frontal lessons.

• Didactic materials provided by the teacher.
• Introduction to Ore-Forming Processes. Laurence Robb. (2005). Blackwell Science Ltd.
ISBN 0-632-06378-5
• Handbook of clay science. (2006). Editors: Faïza Bergaya B.K.G. Theng G. Lagaly. Elsevier. ISBN: 9780080441832.

Oral exam